A-Z GUIDE ON COMMON HAMSTER AILMENTS AND ILLNESSES

This is a list of the common hamster ailments, including their symptoms and possible remedies. This information is gathered from past topics of various members.Do look through this topic if your hamster is unwell. Remember to use this as a guide only and consult a qualified vet experienced with small animals if your hamster is very ill. The information is presented in an as accurate manner as possible but THEHAMSTERUNIVERSE shall not be responsible for any mishaps as a result of its use. Credits to HAMSTERHIDEOUT FOR THIS LIST.

[A]

Abscess

Symptoms: A lump formed from a previous wound, may be filled with pus.

Causes: An abscess is an infection from a bite or cut.

Remedies: Usually requires a vet to lance (make a surgical incision in) the abscess and drain any built-up fluids in it. To be followed by a course of antibiotics. See Antibiotics for more information.

Antibiotics and MedicineList of known medication including antibiotics. (Put together by rascal of Hamsterific and missPixy)

Safe meds for hamsters•Bacitracin•Carprophen (anti-inflammatory pain reliever)•Cephaloridine (Loridine)•Chlorampenicol Palmitate (Chloromycetin)•Chloramphenicol Succinate (Chloromycetin)•Gentamicin (Gentocin)•Enrofloxacin (Baytril) *has proven effective against Wet Tail **Shouldn't be given to Nursing or Pregnant hamster•Metronidazole (Flagyl) #flagyl should only be used with caution. Stop usage if there are any changes in hamster's appetite, and possibly to proceed with force-feeding something like Oxbow Critical Care if necessary. Thanks to CharlieLilah for pointing it out at this related post.•Neomycin (Biosol)•Neomycin Sulfate Oxytetracycline (Liquamycin)•Septra**•Sulfamethazine•Sulfamerazine•Sulfaquinoxaline (Sulquin)•Tribrissen

A list of toxic meds: Never accept a prescription for any of the following for your hamster!!!•Amoxicillin•Ampicillin (Polyflex)•Cefadroxil (cefa-drops) - related post•Clindamycin (Cleocin)•Erythromycin•Griseofulvin (Fulvicin U/F) (Thanks to birthdayHamster for pointing it out)•Lincomycin (Lincocin)•Penicillin•Penicillin/Benzathin/Procaine (Bicillin, Flocillin)•Penicillin Procaine (Azimycin)•Streptomycin (Biotec)•Tetracyclines•Tylosin (Tylan)Important:When your hamster is on a course of antibiotics, be sure to supplement his/her daily food mix with 1/4 teaspoon of plain, unflavoured yogurt. Yogurt contains beneficial bacteria which is required to keep the hamster's digestive system balanced while on the antibiotics.

[ B ]

Balding

Please refer to [ F ] Fur Loss.

Bleeding

Background info: Note that female hamsters do not have periods and therefore do not suffer from once a month "bleeding".

Specific cases and remedies:•Blood from the urinary tract - This could mean an urinary tract infection(UTI). Consult a vet and obtain a hamster-safe antibiotic such as Baytril or Albon. Note that if bleeding occurs again after the course of antibiotics, it could mean that there is an internal cyst in one of the hamster's internal organs. Consult a vet again to have the hamster examined.

•Blood from the hamster's anus - This could be a result of feeding too much wet food such as fruits or vegetables. Cut down on those foods. If after a week you see no improvement, make an appointment with a hamster-experienced vet as this continued bleeding could point to something more serious such as a tumor in the intestinal tract.

Home-made remedy for minor cuts (Gathered from missPixy's post here)Boil some water and pour it into a mug containing a good handful of fresh thyme herb sprigs. Let this sit for at least 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then, you can use a paper towel to filter the thyme-infused water from the sprigs. Use this thyme water to clean your hamster's cut twice a day.

Related topics / References:- Cut on ear!

Cheekpouch (Impacted)

Background info: Note that hamsters make use of their cheekpouches to hoard food for storage. They may sometimes use their cheekpouches to store bedding/nesting material for transportation. Therefore, it is normal for them to have "swollen" cheeks after stuffing themselves full. Hamsters will empty them from time to time.

Symptoms: Abnormally swollen cheek, especially on one side only. Hamster keeps pushing cheekpouch out of mouth.

Causes: Sticky or sharp object in cheekpouch. Avoid feeding hamsters sticky foods~~ such as raisins, peanut butter, or food that can compact too easily into a ball, such as bread~~ to minimise the chances of the food getting stuck in the cheekpouch.

Remedies: Visit a rodent-experienced vet to have the hamster's cheekpouch "flushed" out of any stuck and irritable stuff.

Symptoms: Swollen belly and hunched-up back when walking. Loss of appetite. No signs of droppings or greatly reduced, paste-like droppings.

Causes: Lack of water, too much dry food, inbalanced digestive system. (Note that "oatmeal is binding so eating too much may lead to constipation". Taken from Ratsrule).

Remedies: Feeding a little olive oil is helpful. Wash hands thoroughly, put a few drops on your finger and let your hamster lick it up. Massage your hamster's tummy with a warm towel. If you see a 'plug' of poo in your hamster's rear, try to soften it with warm water and olive oil. Supplement the hamster's diet with some plain, unflavoured yogurt. Provide some fresh food such as veggies/fruits (for example, apple, strawberry, lettuce or cabbage) in small amounts a few times a week. Ensure adequate supply of fresh water. Do consult a vet and obtain medication for the constipation if your hamster shows no sign of recovery after a day or two.

When the constipation has been treated, obtain some timothy hay from the pet store and feed some to the hamster. The fibre in the hay will help the hamster's digestive system work normally again.

Related topics / References:- Constipated?- Constipated Hamster

Edited by missPixy, 28 December 2004 - 11:25 PM.

[D]

Dehydration

Symptoms: Lethargic behaviour. Use the following skin pinch test if you suspect your hamster is dehydrated: Pinch the skin on the back of your hamster gently. If the skin returns slowly into place, it's a sign of dehydration.

Remedies: Rehydrate the hamster by adding an electrolyte solution like unflavoured pedialyte to the drinking water, 50% pedialyte to 50% water. Supplement with a slice of cucumber if your hamster is not suffering from wet tail or diarrhoea.

Always ensure that a fresh supply of cleaning drinking water is available in a water bottle and that the bottle is secured at a height that the hamster can reach. Never place your hamster's cage under direct sunlight or in a warm place with poor ventilation. Note that direct draughts on the cage is also not recommended.

Related topics / References:- is my hammy dehydrated?

Diabetes

Symptoms: Excessive drinking and peeing, pee attracts ants, lethargic behaviour and weight loss in later stages. Important: Use diabetes test strips to test for glucose levels in the urine; a high glucose level would indicate a likelihood of diabetes.

If the test is positive, there are dietary measures to be taken such as eliminating simple carbohydrates which include pastas, white rice & many wheat products, and replacing these with complex carbohydrates such as broccoli, and more protein such as tofu, millet, scrambled egg. However, contrary to popular belief, there is a small group of "safe" fruits and veggies that are suitable for diabetic hamsters including apples, corn, carrots and strawberries. This is because these foods cause a very low "glycemic" reaction when eaten, which is the amount of blood sugar triggered into the system. An explanation of glycemic index and load, along with a comprehensive list of foods, can be found here:

International glycemic index and load food values

Please keep in mind that many of the foods listed here are for human consumption, and not suitable for hamsters under any condition!

A list of some common foods (including apple, strawberry, corn and carrots) along with their glycemic values can be found here:

Glycemic values for common foods

There have been reports of success lowering a diabetic hamster's glucose levels using the herb "fenugreek".

Some hamsters diagnosed with diabetes have benefited from treatment with "Glipizide" which is an oral drug used with Type 2 diabetics. This must be prescribed by a veterinarian who's familiar with rodents and who will help you monitor your hamster weekly while using the drug. Glipizide can cause severe side effects if the dosing is too high for the hamster, so this treatment isn't recommended unless you have the support of a veterinarian knowledgeable about rodents and hamsters.

If the test is negative and symptoms of excessive drinking/peeing are present, the hamster might be suffering from a urinary tract infection (Some bleeding might occur as well). If this is the case rather than a high glucose reading, consult a vet to obtain hamster-safe antibiotics such as Baytril or Albon. Refer to [A] Antibiotics and Medicine.

Causes: Hereditary disease, emphasized in genes by poor breeding practices. More likely to occur in dwarfs such as campbell russians and winter whites. Note that hamsters with a history of diabetes should not be bred further.

DiarrhoeaPlease refer to [ W ] Wet Tail for related remedies. Note that wet tail comes with severe diarrhoea and is fatal if left untreated within 48 hours.

[E]

Eye (Swollen, Closed)

Symptoms: One or both eyes remaining shut even when hamster is awake. Matted or messy fur near eye as a result of watery eye. 'Crusty eyes' - Visible foreign deposits on slit of eyelids. Related problems: Conjunctivtis (Reddish or pinkish colour on eye not present previously), Respiratory problem (Refer to [R] Respiratory/Breathing).

Remedy: Obtain Bausch and Lomb soothing eye wash (obtainable from local pharmacy) and let 1 or 2 drops fall directly on the eye using the spout. Let your hamster rub it in himself (he will!). Repeat twice daily. Alternatively, wash the hamster's eye with this home-made remedy: Add one teaspoon of boric acid to half a cup of boiled and cooled down water. Using an eye dropper, bathe the eye 2 or 3 times a day with it.

If the eye does not show any signs of recovery in 2-3 days, consult a vet as a more serious health issue could be present. Sometimes an impacted cheekpouch can cause watering/closed eyes, as can overgrown teeth.

If your hamster's eye is swollen but not watering or sticky, there have been corneal ulcers, and ingrown eyelashes (called "entropion") reported in this site. These conditions can easily be mis-diagnosed as a simple infection by a vet.

Fur Loss Symptoms: Excessive scratching, especially to the point of exposing raw & red skin. (Note that a hamster's daily grooming and cleaning routine includes some "light" scratching, licking and "biting" of fur. This is normal.)

Causes: Mites, allergy to bedding, old age. Pine or cedar-based bedding can cause irritation to a hamster's skin, leading to excessive scratching and fur loss. Fur loss due to bedding irritation can usually be found at on the hamster's underside and legs as these are the areas in contact with the bedding.

If you use a horizontal wire cage (such as the Habitrail Safari or Space Station) and your hamster chews on the wire frequently, it may lead to a bald patch just above the nose. This is due to rubbing on the wire during chewing.

Old age can lead to some loss of fur around the legs or ears. This is normal and unavoidable.

Other causes of fur loss, quoted from missPixy here with updated information:

Quote

Sarcoptic Mange

clinical signs: there is hair loss around the face which includes infection. The condition is contagious.

diagnosis: microscopy to reveal the mite Sarcptes scabiei is necessary.

treatment: Ivermectin 1% given orally every 10 days, for a month.

Demodecosis: infection with these mites is common, but clinical disease is only seen if the immune system is compromised, in the young, pregnant or aged hamster.

treatment: Ivermectin 1% can be given undiluted orally. one drop is given and repeated every 10 days as necessary. weekly amitraz baths are also effective.

Ringworm:

clinical signs: these include fur loss, dry skin with yellow flaking. The body and ears are affected. the condition is sometimes includes infections.

diagnosis: microscopy and culture on Sabouraud's medium should be carried out.

treatment*: the patient should be handled with gloves and may be washed with a pvoidone-iodine shampoo or an anti-fungal preparation such as natamycin. A the hamster's house should be cleaned out with povidone-iodine solution.*Credit for Ringworm treatment information:Diseases of Small Domestic Rodents, Second Edition, 2003.V. C. G. Richardson

General Remedies: Change the bedding/litter to a recycled pulp or paper based type if you have been using pine or cedar. Supplement the hamster's diet with cod-liver oil and crushed yeast tablets to aid fur coat recovery. Pure aloe vera gel is useful for soothing irritated skin. Obtain the gel from a pharmacy and apply directly onto the hamster's skin twice daily. Recommended to do this while arranging and waiting for an appointment with a vet if the cause of the fur loss cannot be determined.

Quote

addition of vitamin A helps with fur growth. this can be found in carrots... try chopping some up to add to their meals. vitamin D as well... this can be found in milk products, and cheese (lowfat is preferable). also, there's something called Vitapet Small Animal Fur Conditioner that contains cod-liver oil, vitamins A and DAbove notes quoted from missPixy in: Fur loss

Background Info: Thyme is a herb and is a natural antibiotic and decongestant. It is useful for relieving respiratory (breathing) problems such as stuffy nose and for cleaning minor cuts and wounds.

Fresh thyme herb can be obtained from supermarkets or grocery stores (produce area), usually in packets. Thyme aromatheraphy oil can also be used in vaporisers, remember to use in small amounts or diluted with a base oil first.

Note that thyme should not be used in the presence of pregnant hamsters or humans. Also stop using when signs of respiratory problems are gone as overusing on a normal respiratory system can actually irritate it.

Refer to [R] Respiratory (Breathing) Problems and [C] Cuts (Minor) for more information on how thyme can be used in each case.

Edited by missPixy, 28 November 2004 - 11:48 AM.

[ I ]

[ J ]

[L]

Limbs (Broken, Sprained, Swollen)

Symptoms: Dragging of limbs when moving about. Signs of limping.

Causes: Bad fall resulting in broken or sprained limbs. Limbs caught in part of the cage or other objects. Fighting with other hamsters. In more severe cases of falls or accidents, dragging of limbs is due to an injured spine.

Remedies: Separate your hamsters if they had been in a fight. Remove the exercise wheel, ladder and any other objects that the hamster might climb on. This is to prevent further injuries or aggravation of current injury. Lower the water bottle to a comfortable height so that the hamster does not need to stretch to reach it. Sometimes, hamsters are able to heal broken limbs on their own but you should consult a vet to obtain anti-inflammatory pain relievers such as Carprophen to aid their recovery process. In the meantime, keep your hamster comfortable and calm by refering to [C] Calming an Injured or Ill Hamster.

Symptoms: Excessive and frequent displays of the following symptoms for no apparent reasons:•Leaning to one side when moving about•Backflipping•Running in circles•Spinning on the spotCauses: Inner ear infection. Brain tumour. Genetic disorder affecting the brain, nervous system or inner ear. In this case, note that affected hamsters should not be bred further so as not to pass on the responsible genes to their offsprings.

Remedies: Consult a vet to determine the cause of the symptoms. Keep the hamster comfortable as well as you can. In extreme cases, where the hamster is unable to cope with daily routines normally, it may be required to put down the hamster to end his/her suffering. Get the vet's opinion on this decision.

However, the remedy may simply be a round of hamster-safe antibiotics such as Baytril to clear up an inner-ear infection. Try to see a vet as soon as possible once you notice these symptoms, because the infection can spread quickly and even cause a hamster to go deaf.

Background info: Do not confuse scent glands and tumours. Note that dwarf hamsters have a scent gland on the underside of their body. It is near the middle of the chest and may be slightly yellowish or brownish. Syrians have them on top on each side their body near their rear.

Syrian's scent glands(Thanks to piglet's parents for this pic):Posted Image

Dwarf hamster's scent glandPosted Image

Symptoms: External tumours can be observed as abnormal growths on the outside of the hamster's body. Internal tumours can also grow inside a hamster, causing a swell or bloat on the outside.

Causes: Cancerous growths might be due to genetic factors, environment, diet or a combination of any. In any case, it is recommended that this hamster is not bred further.

Remedies: Consult a vet to determine what course of action is best. Sometimes surgery is necessary if a tumor is growing and threatening to impair an organ or other body functionality. A biopsy done on a surgically removed tumor can tell you whether the tumour or growth is malignant (threatening to life) or benign (non-threatening). The vet will advise you if the tumour has to be removed by surgery.

Home-made remedy for mites (From Marlene of Hamsterific.)Mix 1 tablespoon of Listerine and 1 tablespoon of Witch Hazel with 2 cups of boiled water cooled down to room temperature. Put the mixed solution in a spray water bottle for plants and spray it on your hands. Rub your fingers all over the hamster's body, careful to avoid the face area and all the while working your fingers into the skin so that it's all covered with the solution. Note that the hamster should not be made soaking wet else he/she might catch a chill. Apply this solution once a day and put the hamster straight back to the cage. Continue for 3-4 days until there are no signs of the mites. Wash the cage and accessories more frequently during this period with a double strength solution (2 tablespoon of Listerine and 2 tablespoon of Witch Hazel with 2 caps of water). Also recommended to spray the surrounding area, for example the shelf area and floor where the cage is, with this solution.

Related topics / References:- sick hamster

Also refer to [ F ] Fur Loss for other related information.

[ N ]

[ O ]

[ P ]

Pyometra

Symptoms: Pyometra is an infection of the womb and thus only affects females. A pyometra can be 'open' when the hamster will show a discharge which can be yellowy or blood stained and sometimes foul smelling, or 'closed' where there is no discharge. In both cases the abdomen is swollen and the tummy feels hard and tense as there is pus inside the womb. It can be difficult to detect in the early stages as hamsters often appear quite normal until it is quite advanced. They often drink more and appear lethargic as the toxins invade the bloodstream. Appetite is lost also and weight loss occurs.

Causes: Pyometra is caused by bacteria entering the womb and usually there is no cause identified though it can be from a respiratory or urinary infection or following birth, if all the pups and placenta have not been delivered successfully.

Treatment: Antibiotic treatment will only bring about a temporary remission of this disease. Most vets will prescribe Baytril but unless the infection is low vaginal it always returns and the hamster will invariably die unless surgery is performed.

The only cure is to spay the hamster by removing the womb and ovaries surgically. This, in itself, is risky however it is the only option for a cure in a young, otherwise healthy animal. Baytril can be useful in reducing the infection prior to operating and also post operative. With careful nursing the hamster is usually up and about within a few hours post operation. It is important to keep the hamster feeding after the op and painkillers should be given for the first few days. The operation can be quite expensive in some areas and it is important to find a good rodent experienced vet to operate.

Causes: Pine/cedar bedding as they contain a type of oil known as phenols which irritates the hamster's respiratory system. Another possible cause is allergy to other scents such as perfume or soap.

Hamsters can also get respiratory infections and, because of a hamster's accelerated metabolism, these infections can kill a hamster overnight. Once you observe the symptoms listed above, you must take action immediately.

Remedies: If pine/cedar bedding is used, discard immediately and change to aspen, recycled paper or recycled paper pulp-based bedding. Use the following Thyme Tea Remedy to help relieve breathing problems.

What is thyme and where to obtain it:Thyme is a herb and is a natural antibiotic and decongestant. Fresh thyme herb can be obtained from supermarkets, usually in packets. Refer to <span style='font-size:11pt;line-height:100%'>[H]</span> Herb - Thyme for more information.

Thyme Tea Remedy (summarized from missPixy's post here)•Take about 10-12 sprigs of the fresh thyme and put them in a mug.•Boil some water.•While keeping a close watch on the water, make a little emergency nest for your hamster. Get some more thyme leaves by stripping them from the sprigs and mix them into the bedding.•Hold your hamster and massage him or her to keep them warm. Hamsters are usually cold to the touch when they get respiratory problems.•Crush some thyme leaves under your hamster's nose to help start the decongestion process.•Once the water boils, pour it in the mug to cover only over the thyme. Stir it occasionally, and let it sit for about 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, put some paper towel over another clean mug, and pour the tea into this new mug. The paper towel will filter out the leaves.•With your eyedropper or syringe, take up a couple of hamster mouthfuls' worth. Let this sit for about 30 seconds or so until it is not hot (you don't want to burn your hamster's mouth). Test by a few drops on your hand first.•Give your hamster a few drops of the tea. Continue massaging and crushing the thyme leaves under his/her nose for about an hour to ensure adequate recovery. This is an important step since the hamster needs to warm up before recovery can set in. Do not skip it.•Massaging is beneficial to the hamster rather than just letting him/her rest during this period. Since the hamster's metabolism is very fast, as quickly as they get sick, they can recover just as quickly if encouraged to metabolize it out of their systems. Remember to do this only in conjunction with the above steps.If you can't find fresh thyme, HH member Josh has recommended the following:

Quote

An easy way to do it all is buy ground thyme at the store for about 5.00 or less, and do the following:

- In place of boiling water on stove, use a microwave and the ground thyme (nuke water then add thyme). - In place of a dropper for the tea, put a straw a ways in, put your thumb on the end, and pull it out. Some tea should remain in the straw. Let your hamster lick out the tea from the other end.- In place of crushing the leaves, place hamster's nose next to container of ground thyme.- To help warm hamster, alternate massaging and slowly blowing hot breaths of air into the fur.

This worked well for me.

[S]

Surgery

[T]

Tooth (Missing, Chipped, Loose, Misaligned, Overgrown)

Symptoms:Misaligned, Overgrown Teeth: Hamster's mouth lopsided or unable to close properly. Hamster does not deshell sunflower seeds anymore, refusal / unable to eat some food, leading to loss of weight.

Chipped, Loose, Missing Tooth: Front incisors (Two top, two bottom) are important to a hamster. Sometimes, a tooth may be chipped or missing.

Note that it's normal for hamsters to have yellow teeth.

How to Check: Scruffing your hamster. (Video on how-to coming soon).

Causes: Nutritional deficiency, accidents.

Remedies: Trim incisors so that they are of the same length. Consult a vet to do this. If one of the teeth is missing, the one that is facing it in the opposite direction has to be trimmed down every other week, else it would grow too long without the earlier tooth to grind against. This is because a hamster's teeth grow continuously throughout his life.

In the meantime, feed your hamster deshelled sunflower seeds (Vitamin E from sunflower seeds is beneficial for teeth growth but note that too many a day is fattening.) Break other food into small pieces. Softer foods such as cooked rice, tofu and scrambled egg will also make things easier for your hamster while his teeth are growing evenly again.

Causes: Main cause is stress and results in bacterial attack of a hamster's gastro-intestinal tract due to a lowered immunity system. Stress can come from new environments, example change of bedding or unfamiliar surroundings. Most likely to affect young syrians.

Remedies: Separate from other nearby hamsters immediately. Consult a vet and obtain hamster-safe antibiotics such as Baytril (enrofloxican). Note that a pregnant/nursing-hamster should take antibiotics such as Albon only.

When feeding antibiotics, always supplement with plain, unflavoured yogurt to keep the hamster's digestive system balanced. Remove fruits, vegetables and other wet food from the daily diet during this period. Feed only dry hamster mix. Reduce stress on hamster by not handling as often. Give the hamster time to adjust to his/her surroundings. Disinfect cage which housed the wet tail affected hamster thoroughly and sun it. Change bedding at most once a week and keep a small amount of previous bedding in the cage to retain the familiar scent. Ensure drinking water is always available. Recommended: Rehydrate the hamster by adding an electrolyte solution like Pedialyte to the drinking water, 25% pedialyte to 75% water.

For general diarrhoea, obtain a medicine called Kaomix or Kaolin at any pharmacy and feed 1 or 2 drops to the hamster. This is recommended by Dr. Ling of Namly Animal Clinic. Thanks to gigiii for this.